[Seminar] Arboviral diseases in the context of climate change

C2i is co-organizing a seminar with the HKUMed School of Public Health presented by Professor Anna-Bella Failloux (Institut Pasteur, France) on 15 September entitled: Arboviral diseases in the context of climate change

Date: 15 Sept 2025 (Mon) 

Time: 11:30-12:30

Venue: 6/F, Seminar Room 5, 3 Sassoon Road (3SR-SR5) 

Abstract: Climate change and globalization contribute significantly to the expansion of mosquito vectors and the pathogens they transmit. Long spared, temperate regions have had to contend with the emergence of arboviruses traditionally confined to tropical regions. In Europe, chikungunya virus (CHIKV) was first reported in Italy in 2007, dengue virus (DENV) in France in 2010, and Zika virus (ZIKV) in France in 2019. CHIKV, DENV and ZIKV are all transmitted by the same vector, the tiger mosquito Aedes albopictus, which was first detected in Europe in Albania in 1979 and again in Italy in 1990. It is now established in more than 20 European countries. This mosquito can experimentally transmit at least 26 arboviruses. The consequences on public health of invasive species such as this mosquito establishing in Europe will be discussed. 

 Bio: Anna-Bella Failloux, PhD, is professor of medical entomology and chief of the unit “Arboviruses and Insect Vectors” at the Institut Pasteur in Paris. Her work mainly focuses on investigations of arbovirus–mosquito interactions in order to decipher the factors leading to the viral emergence. Failloux develops three complementary lines of research: (i) intervene on the front line of emergence by offering her scientific expertise for public health actions, (ii) contribute to research activities by deciphering molecular mechanisms that modulates arbovirus infections in mosquitoes, and (iii) propose alternative control strategies to mitigate insecticide-based control measures. 

Prof. Failloux earned her Ph.D. in Ecology/Entomology from Orsay University (Paris XI). She did a post-doctoral research training at the Institut Pasteur where she obtained a full position as research assistant. She has an extended expertise on vectors of alphaviruses, flaviviruses and phleboviruses. Her team develops a double expertise in both entomology and virology, serving as a focal point for studies on vector-borne diseases in collaboration with institutes of the Pasteur Network. She also participates actively in teaching medical entomology as director of several courses and a MOOC. 

Key-words: Interactions arbovirus-mosquito, Experimental virus evolution, Vector competence, High containment work (BSL-3, I3, A3)